Another Lesson Learned Along the Way

It is nearing the end of the week for my wonderful husband to be at home from work. We were supposed to be in St. Augustine for a week, resting, eating shrimp, reading and looking at the ocean. God had other plans and we have been home. When we moved 2 1/2 years ago I had the fun of decorating and planning our new home. As I sat yesterday, in my mind I walked through the house. Each room has special meaning to the two of us. Our bedroom is decorated in navy blue and white, much like our bedroom at the beach and the decorations are reminders of the beach. Our living room is a reminder of really three weddings, mine and both girls. I even have my wedding dress hanging in a corner. Most of the room is in whites and beiges. It is a peaceful room that always reminds me to be still. I have my quiet time in that room. Then there is the dining room full of memories of my grandmother, Mee-Maw. The furniture is what I grew up with and the chairs all make a squeak when you sit in them. I ate Sunday supper almost every Sunday at that table. The room has hydrangeas on the buffet which remind me of the many times of where I used to hide in playing hide and seek at their house. The great room/kitchen is our bird room where our focus is on watching the feeders we have in the windows and the variety of birds. A time to be still and watch God’s creation. I love the room. Upstairs is our cabin room where we retreat and of course a gym and a hospitality room for those that visit. The basement room finished is a huge playroom for the grandkids and those young at heart. This week I have learned to love this place we call home. God knew where I needed to learn to rest. Next time your plans don’t turn out like you think they should start looking for reasons that God might have had in changing your plans. Seek Him and He promises He can be found and you might just be surprised with what He tells you.
Join me as I continue to Walk with the Father and learn lessons along the way.

Funny stories

I was shopping yesterday, sick but trying to pretend I was better. A little worn looking around the edges.
I found the perfect T-Shirt for George that had Mountain Dew written on it so just had to buy.
As I was checking out the lady behind the cash register announced she had given me the senior discount.
I am starting the new year with a senior face. What a great compliment! Now I am on the lookout for all the discounts I can get.
By the way do you know what the age is for a senior person? After all I am still in my forties. Ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

What are you striving for in the New Year?

Well, I have tried to write this three times today. The first one is lost in the computer somewhere and the second one remains in the draft section.
Each of them is different and that is the way the day has gone. I am fighting bronchitis and the battle is being won by the illness and not me today.
The side effects of the medicine have kept me down and more reflective. I have been reading a book by Shannon Ethridge called “Completely His.”
I must admit as I have read it I have thought “Boy does this woman have problems” and then the Holy Spirit began to speak to me. Watch out when that happens as there is always something you need to hear. There is just a short question in the reading and I can’t stop but put some thought to this question “What are you striving for?” “What do you need that can be found in any other way than Jesus?" I remember a day during the busy Christmas season when I ran literally the whole day from thing to thing and accomplished a lot. I had been sick and on the mend but the days were few until the big family celebration. I was striving to please my family, not a bad thing and God did bless our time together, but I ended up later in the week extremely sick and having to miss a week on the beach with my main and only man, my husband. As I sit now today I realize that a lot of striving has been going on this year with the main person, myself at the center. Probably most of us if not all tend to put ourselves first. So again facing a new year with new resolutions to make and another year, Lord willing to live “What am I striving for?” Perhaps this question is something you needed to read today. I am praying in the coming year that I am seeking my God with all my heart, loving Him with all my heart and serving Him with all my heart. I intend on keeping that question in view so that I don’t spend my time, both my words and actions in a way that seeks my will instead of His. Walk with the Father this year and ask yourself that question and see if God doesn’t tap your shoulder with some revelation that you need to hear.
Happy New Year to you all!

WALKING WITH THE FATHER AND CELEBRATING

I love celebrations. I love to jump up and down and exclaim the joys of life.
So might I encourage you today to do a little jumping. And before you start jumping why don’t you do a little reading in the book of Luke.
I try every year to read this book of the Bible to again remind, renew and encourage my heart of the story of Jesus birth and ministry.
After all it is worth the greatest of celebrations and our family plans to celebrate and jump for joy this year.
Join us as we jump and proclaim what it means to have Jesus as our Lord and Savior and the willingness of the Father to send His only Son to pay the huge cost of His life so that we can jump and celebrate forever. Walk with the Father today, Read His Word and Do a lot of Stomping of the feet.
God Bless you All this Christmas!

Walking with the Father and Laughing

This is just too funny!
I have been told I look like a woman on some TV show, Joanna Kerns from Growing Pains a lot and I have been told by my vet that I look like Paula Deen. Oh My! Friday at my hang out, the Patio (my favorite tea place) a lady was sitting at a table and asked me where I got my jeans.
She looked rather well to do if you know what I mean. I looked at the back of my jeans and said “they are Riders” and I didn’t say but I should have said they came from Wal mart and cost $12.99. She replied they sure make good copies of expensive jeans. She proceeded to acknowledge my cute hair cut and wanted to know where I got it cut. And then the big announcement “You look like you are from Texas.” Okay, so I am beginning to wonder what is happening here. Did I need a good laugh? I now know I am a famous actress, cook and from Texas!! I pray today that if you need a laugh or to be encouraged to walk with Father then smile with me and say, Yee Haw, a child of the Father by the grace of God and may I look like him today as I smile and greet those who cross my path.

Walking with the Father and renewing your mind

Ephesians 4:17-24 (ESV)
Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!-- assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

It is so easy this time of year to take a vacation from our walk with God and get into the world thing and yes I mean decorations, presents, commitments, parties, staying up way too late, eating food we later regret, complaining, arguing, not getting along with others, blaming others for our problems and yes do I need to add more to the list? I write this out of my own convictions for this time of year. I have lived long enough now to know the battle rages around this time to know the importance of renewing the mind daily as there is much competition for doing the best thing and that is my time with God. If there ever is a time you need to do this it is now before the world tells you what you have to do instead of slowing down to hear the voice of God. I am sitting in my favorite leather chair with an undecorated house and much to be done for Christmas and stopping to think the most important thing I can do this morning is meet with the one whose birthday we celebrate. Much is going on in my life to bring before the Father, much prayer needs to be offer for friends who have contacted me with serious family needs but most of all I just need to sit and renew my mind and think upon who came and died for me. Might I encourage you today to start your day with Him and walk with Him throughout the day! Don’t let your heart become harden to the things of God with trying to finish your to do list. Make Him the first thing on your to do list and watch what happens afterward. Your spirit will be soften, you will be walking in the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness. and your goals and direction will be different. Your light will shine as bright as the many trees sparkling around our world. Might these words cause us all to ponder as we back out of the driveway for the miles we have to travel.

“Let us encourage one another...”

Walking with the Father and Our Conduct

Ephesians 4:1-6 (ESV)

I therefore, a prisoner for the Lord, urge you to walk in a manner worthy of the calling to which you have been called, with all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love, eager to maintain the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. There is one body and one Spirit--just as you were called to the one hope that belongs to your call-- one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.
I read this verse today and thought it perfect for us to think about as we all enter one of the busiest times of the year. May we all be encouraged to think about what we reflect to our families and the people that cross our paths this Christmas season and might we all conduct ourselves in a way that brings God all the glory.

Carol Hoffman
cbhoffman@bellsouth.net
http://carolsdailywalk.blogspot.com

“Let us encourage one another...”